Daniel O’Mahony and Michal Sikora of Da Silly Heads at the launch of Local Enterprise Week 2021. Photo: Clare Keogh

It’s business time

Wellness and wellbeing are the core themes of Local Enterprise Week 2021 which will kick off next week online.

This year the schedule is packed with events from ‘Tips and Tools for Minding your Mental Health and Wellbeing during Covid-19’ presented by the HSE, to an in-depth session on selling online.

The week, which was launched this week by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO), will get underway on Monday and will run until 5 March with over 200 events taking place for free online.

Throughout the week there will be panel discussions, networking sessions, business advice clinics and workshops such as ‘Funding the Digitalisation of SMEs’ with Cork Smart Gateway.

There will also be a mental health visual advocacy workshop running throughout the week run by LEO Cork City clients Da Silly Heads, a social enterprise run by Michal Sikora and Daniel O’Mahony aiming to remove the stigma around mental health.

As part of this national event, Local Enterprise Office Cork City will be running its own series of free business related events for businesses and budding entrepreneurs.

Cork City Council Chief Executive, Ann Doherty said: “It has been a difficult 12 months for so many businesses in the city. Small businesses are vital to our local economy and LEO Cork City has helped many businesses navigate this last year.”

Paul McGuirk, Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office, Cork City added: “2020 was a year like no other for small businesses all over the country and we will always do what we can to support businesses who need our help.”